Although the World Health Organization diagnosed that the possibility of a global pandemic of monkey pox, which has been reported one after another in Europe and the Americas, is not high, it expressed concern over the lack of relevant information.
According to AP/Reuters, Rosamund Lewis, director of the WHO emergency response program, smallpox, said, "We don't know, but we don't think so." said.
He added, "Currently, we are not concerned about the global fan demise."
Monkey smallpox, known as endemic to Central and West Africa for decades, has spread to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australia since the first case was reported in the UK on the 7th, raising concerns about another health crisis.
According to the WHO, as of the 26th, 257 confirmed cases were reported from 23 countries in non-endemic regions, with a maximum of 127 suspected cases.
There are no known deaths from non-endemic countries.
Director Lewis' remarks are interpreted as re-emphasizing the existing WHO position that 'there is no need to worry too much while strengthening the vigilance'.
However, Director Lewis admitted that there was not enough information about the monkey pox infection.
Exactly how far the virus has spread, whether there are asymptomatic cases of infection, or whether airborne transmission is possible, like measles or COVID-19, is still unclear.
In addition, although most of the reported infections so far occurred among homosexual and bisexual people, including men having sex with the same sex, it has not been confirmed whether the virus was transmitted through sex or through close contact with those having sex. .
Monkey smallpox, a smallpox virus, is known to be effective in preventing 85% of the existing smallpox vaccine.
Accordingly, countries in non-endemic regions appear to be actively seeking smallpox vaccines.
Some health experts are concerned that monkeypox may spread easily because large-scale vaccination programs around the world were halted with the 1980 declaration of eradication of smallpox.
In this regard, Director Lewis also said that it would be unfortunate if monkeypox digs into the 'immune gap' of 40 years.